Down to 2

With our magic number now at 2, I give you one of the most beloved bearers of that number: Jerry Remy. We'll be back at Fenway tonight, with Remdawg in the broadcast booth. How can we NOT clinch?!

(I was going to post a photo of one of my other favorites to wear #2 - Doug Griffin. He was the fulltime second baseman, until the Sox acquired Denny Doyle in mid-1975. After that, his playing time was minimal. But he was awfully cute!)

Get well soon, RemDawg (Part 2)

Every night during the baseball season, I invite two men into my television room. Now, now - I mean the two Red Sox announcers from NESN, Jerry Remy and Don Orsillo. I sometimes think I spend more time with them than I do some of my "real" friends. They are such a part of my Red Sox viewing experience - it's hard to imagine a game without them.

Unfortunately, NESN announced tonight on the pre-game show that Remy is taking an "indefinite" leave to recover from cancer surgery earlier this year. A lifetime smoker, Remy hopes “that disclosing my bout with cancer will reinforce the dangers of smoking to every member of Red Sox Nation, especially children.”

Many of us suspected all was not well when he missed part of Spring Training - and looked thinner when he did arrive. Then he missed some regular season games, and left the most recent road trip early. All pointed to something a bit more serious. It was sad to hear it confirmed tonight. And although I love Dennis Eckersley, and he's done a terrific job subbing, I still miss the Rem Dawg.

Hopefully he'll be well and back with us soon.

RemDawg

I love the RemDawg. Jerry Remy - never a powerhouse player for the Sox - has become one of the most beloved figures in RS Nation. The Globe has a fantastic article about him in their Sunday magazine. From what I've heard from people in the know, this portrait of him is pretty accurate.

Welcome Back, Big Papi

Globe photo from Spring Training 2008

Another shocker in the WBC last night. The Netherlands accomplished what was seemingly impossible: they beat the all-star team from the Dominican Republic for the second time. Last night, it took 11 innings - and the Dutch looked like they'd blown in the top of the 11th. Yet, they came back and won, sending a nation into a frenzy of clog dancing and tulip tossing.

I know Big Papi is sad over the results of last night's incredible game. The DR had been one of the favorites going into the tournament, but the Dutch seemed to have their number from the first inning of game one. SportsCenter had a side by side comparison of the two teams. The DR had 23 major leaguers with a combined income of $84 million. The Dutch had 2 MLB players, whose income is $400,000. Of course, the Dutch had Burt Blyleven as their pitching coach!

The upside for RS fans is that Big Papi is now headed back to Fort Myers. Word is that he'll be in the line-up Friday night for the first ST game vs. the Yankees. Coupled with the return of Jason Bay and Mike Lowell, the team is starting to look a little more familiar!

And one other key player will return for Friday night's game. From the Remy Report site this a.m.:

Over the last several weeks, Jerry has received countless emails wishing him well and asking when he will return to the booth. The good news is that Jerry is not only feeling much better after his bout with pneumonia, but he is finally in Florida and will broadcast the game on Friday! He has asked us to say "Thank You" to all of you who have sent in emails and well wishes.

Yeah, Remdawg is back and healthy! Can't wait for Friday night.

Get well soon, RemDawg

NESN photo

Although I have loved watching baseball again on NESN - they've broadcast two games so far - I really miss Jerry Remy in the booth. He and Don Orsillo make the Sox broadcasts "must-see" tv. Whether it's livening up a boring, one-sided game, sharing his insider insights, or his general silliness, the games just fly by when he and DO are broadcasting.

According to Orsillo, Jerry is sidelined with a "chest infection" he caught while on vacation. He's recuperating in Boston.

Get well soon, RemDawg. I hope we have you back where you belong for next week's gamecast!

Every Day is Remy Day - if you're lucky

AP Photo by Winslow Townson

Today, they are celebrating Jerry Remy's 20 years as a broadcaster with NESN. Some of us are old enough to remember him back in his playing days - another local boy who lived out every New England boy's dream of playing for the Red Sox. (You see another one who did it above - Carlton Fisk). As I recall, he was a fair player - no Hall of Famer, certainly, but a good journeyman player, one who played tough enough to earn the name "Rem Dawg."

But it's been in the broadcast booth that his place in New England legend/folklore has been born. It's a hoot to look back at him in those early days with Ken Coleman - with a voice not yet tainted by 20 years of cigarette smoking. He seems to have the gift of making his partner in the booth even better.

I wasn't able to see those broadcasts until recently, thanks to DirecTV and the MLB Extra Innings package. My enjoyment has been greatly expanded this year, as EI seems to be offering the NESN broadcast for every game - no more suffering through the home broadcasts when the Sox are on the road. Remy and DO make every game - even a blow out or a heartbreaker - a total entertainment experience!

I'm looking forward to many more broadcasts - although I get nervous that some national network will come to their senses and poach him. On the other hand, I think Remy likes being a big fish in a small pond, one who can expand his empire at will. As a matter of fact, I believe they are even opening a RemDawg Restaurant in Logan Airport later this year! Bon appetit, amigos!

RemDawg goes to Tokyo

As you are aware, the Sox have a huge media contingent with them in Japan (compared to the Oakland As, who didn't even bring a film crew with them). Some of the folks have really taken advantage of the opportunity to experience the culture of Japan. Rob Bradford's blog has been fantastic, and Dan Roche has been pretty good (he did break the story about Papelbon buying a samurai sword!). And it was fun to listen to Joe and Dale yesterday morning on the radio talking about some of their experiences eating marinated raw horse meat!

But some aren't quite getting into the spirit. I ventured into an article by CHB yesterday, and found this buried item:

Like me, Jerry Remy is something of an accidental tourist: Try to replicate a trip to Cleveland and everything will be OK. This means USA Today, air conditioning, ESPN, room service hamburgers. Most of our ugly American needs have been met. Rem-Dawg has been frequenting the Trader Vic's in the team hotel because he knows what he's going to get. Told about a local restaurant he might like, Remy said, "Is it outside the hotel? No way."

Somehow this doesn't surprise me - RemDawg doesn't deal with the travel aspect of his job with a lot of grace. So it was wonderful to see a report on NESN's SportsDesk this morning - Remy venturing outside of the hotel!

Rem said his sightseeing up to that point have been limited to the hotel lobby. But, in the company of new reporter Naoko Funayama - who seems to be doing an extended audition for Tina Cervasio's job - he actually walked around the neighborhood. The sight of Remy trying to recruit two women for "Sox Appeal," trying to get directions to the Tokyo Dome, and attending a makeup demonstration on the street - comedy gold.

It made me wonder why NESN doesn't make this a regular feature on the Sox broadcasts. Why not have Remy and Wally visiting the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland? How about Remy throwing fish at the Pike Place Market in Seattle? Helping Don Orsillo find a tanning bed in Kansas City? Having Raymond give him a tour of Tampa? The possibilities are endless!

Video at the White House

Okay, last thing I'm posting about the White House visit. Here's the AP's video from YouTube.

And in the "From the Ridiculous to the Sublime" Department, the team left the White House and went on a visit to the Walter Read Army Medical Center. There, the greeted injured vets just recently returned from Iraq and the Gulf. The Herald and RedSox.com have good accounts of the visit, and the Globe has some photos.

I think it was awesome that they do that. Not only because those brave men and women are deserving of any attention they get for what they've sacrificed for our country. But I also think it's a real reality check, especially for the younger players. They've all been caught up in seeing themselves as American heroes, and I think meeting some true heroes can only have a positive impact on them.

And now, it's almost time to put 2007 behind us. We still have Opening Day (April 8th!) ahead, but tonight is the first game of Spring Training - being broadcast live on NESN! Yeah, time for Don "Donny O" Orsillo and Jerry "RemDawg" Remy. I can't wait!! I only hope there's some pizzer tossing in the stands!!